Container opening key



Nov. 9, 1943. 5. J. STAPLES I CONTAINER OPENING KEY Filed Jan. 29, 1941 BY m 7Z2 7%32222" Jinx am ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 9, 1943 or to American. Can Company, v a corporation or New Jersey January 29, 1941, Serial Macrame Application New York, N. Y-,

1 Claim. 3601. 220- 52) This invention relates to key opening sheet metal containers andhas particularreference to apunc'h and roll typ opening key having 'a notched sh'arikfor uniformly rolling or winding off an *outlin'edarea from a wall of a cont'anier,

to open the container-andthereafter permit removal of its contents. I

In certain respectathe instant invention constitutes an improvement upon the container opening keys illustratedand "described in the John Hothersall' United States Patents 2017j061and 2,017,062, issued October 15, 1935,

and is especially an improvement in the construction o'fthe shank of the key to insure even I winding of a tearing area onto the shank.

The invention contemplates the provision of a "container having a score or weakened line formed in one of its walls to define a removable area and a special form of key for removingsuch an area,

the key having a'sharpen'ed lug capable ofpunching through the container wall at a definite point inside the score line when the key is in a horizontal position parallel with the container wall and the lug is pivotal about the key shank as the lug initially breaks through the container wall on the score line. Thereupon the ing is adaptable for lifting the initially severed edge without tilting so that [rotation of the key tears loose the area along the score line uniformly in opposite directions, starting at the initially broken section and easily winding off the removable area, thus opening the container.

An object of the invention is the provision of an opening key for the removal of a scored or outlined area in the wall of the container, said opening key being provided with a spear or piercing lug which is adapted to puncture an opening at a predetermined location within the scored area when the key is placed in a horizontal position upon the container wall, the construction of the shank of the key permitting such positioning following which the key is operable when rotated on a parallel axis to break the metal of the container wall along the score line simultaneously in different directions so that the removable area may be rolled onto the shank of the key without twisting, thereby opening the container forthe removal of its contents.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an opening key for effectively removing a scored area from the wall of a container in which the flanged shank or body of the key is notched so that the axis of the key may be positioned parallel with the container wall during the first and subsequent turns of the key in removing the scored area which thereby insures a straight roll over the seam edge of the container, whereupon continued turning of the key will wind oil the removable area uniformly without twisting.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken connectionwith the accompanyin drawjin'g, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and a key embodyi g the present invention and illustrating the initial uniform tearing of the score :line during the opening operation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged tra'gmentary view in vertical section of a portion or the container illustrated in Fig. l, and showing a piercing lug of the opening key inserted in the container wall;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper side of the opening key showing the notched out section of the shank;

Fig. 4 is a view. similar to Fig. 3 showing the lower side of the key, as it would appear when the key is turned over; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverseview in section as indicated by the line 945 (Fig. 3')

As. a preferred embodiment oi": the invention there is shown in the drawing a sardine container I I of the roll top variety, having a drawn body 12 and a top wall or cover 13 secured in any suitable manner as by a double seam II. This top wall comprises a substantially flat panel which is countersunk beneath the upper edge of the double seam. Such a wall has a removable area I5 set off by a score line or weakened section 16 which is cut in the wall of the cover.

A plurality of defined key inserting positions or puncturing locations are marked in the removable area l5 of the cover wall as by detents or depressions I! (Fig. 1). These detents are positioned a predetermined distance relative to the score line 16 of the cover and adjacent the opposite ends of the container. The base of such detents may be weakened to facilitate puncturing at either end just prior to an opening operation.

A punch and roll type container opening key 2! (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) is preferably formed by being blanked from a single piece of suitable sheet metal. Such a key comprises an elongated body or shank 22 having a finger engaging, oblong shaped head 23 formed at one end thereof and having a centrally disposed circular perforation 24 which permits the key to be strung on a cord or wire, or if desired, hung on a nail.

lug terminates in a sharpened point or spear as at 32 and the angular edge 33 thereof is preferably beveled or tapered to facilitate its easy insertion when puncturing the can wall. v

The wall 26 of the shank 22 is preferably notched as at 34 adjacent the head of the key so that when the key is placed upon the can wall l3 prior to and at the start of an opening operation, there will be a bridge portion 35 connecting the channel section of the shank and the key head. In such position the key will be substantially parallel to the container wall (Figs. 1 and 2) being opened. The head 23 of the key is shown projecting outwardly over the double seam M in a convenient position for winding off the removable area of the container top wall.

In opening the container the sharpened point 32 of the k'ey'shank is first inserted by punching it into one. of the detents'l'! (Figs. 1 and 2) to engage the key 2| in a pivotal connection with the removable area |:5.- When in such a position the key may be turned in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) .so that thesharpened point '32 of the curved piercing lug 3| contacts the cover wall |3 directly beneath the weakened area constituting the scoreline |.6. Further turning of the-key, by reason'of the curvature of thelug 3|, causes the point 32 to initially break through the metal of the weakened section at the score line and thereafter sever it uniformly'in opposite ,directions along the score 'line, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. By reason of the notch 34 the, axis of the'key will be parallel to thecontainer wall at all times. 3 i

The length of the piercing lug 3| and the degree of its curvature determines the leverage of the key in its initial turning movement during an opening operation. For this reason the lug is preferably made short and slightly curved to efiect an easy break-through of the container wall.

The notched shank of the key permits straddling of the double seam I4, while the key is in a substantially parallel position on the cover wall l3 and operable by the overhanging head end, thus insuring a straight roll over the seam edge. The first turn of the key begins the winding of the removable area l5 onto the key shank in an even manner while the key is turned on a parallel axis as heretofore mentioned. Further tuming of the key will complete the winding-01f of the removable area onto the key shank in a uniform roll without twisting, thereby efl'ecting an opening inthe container wall for the withdrawal of the canned contents.

Itis thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts-without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefqre described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 1

A key for opening cans, consisting of a piece of metal blanked out to form: a transverse handle by which the key may be rotated and having a shank portion bent-into channel shape with longitudinal side walls spaced wider apart adjacent thehandle one of said walls at the wide part'adjacent the handle'being notched to provide a can seam bridge, the bottom of the notch being straight for the major portion of its width and the straight part being substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the longitudinal axis of-the shank, the narrow outer end of said shankbeing provided with a laterally extending and curved piercing arm located on the same side of the shankasthe notch for breaking through thecan wall'when the said shank is turned in opening the can along a weakened line, said notch maintaining the longitudinal to the-can'wall during such turning action.

\ SIDNEY J. STAPLES.

axis of the shank parallel 

